Letter to the Editor: Shaping the Community We Want to See

As a member of this community for more than 30 years, I believe that Charles County is one of the best places to live, work and play. Watching our population become increasingly diverse over the years has ignited in me a greater passion for change and unity within our communities.

As the executive director of LifeStyles, a local nonprofit social services agency, I am grateful for an organization such as ours that tackles the issues our community faces daily. No matter someones socioeconomic status, ethnicity, age, sexual orientation, length of residency or religious preference, we are now serving a community whose needs change all the time. We are committed to helping to shape the change we want to see in our community, and to ensure that all members of the community have a voice, and grow to feel welcomed and accepted.

We believe it is imperative that members of the local community participate in dialogue and share how they can help Charles County continue to be a great place to live, work and play. The annual Unity in Our Community Forum, sponsored by the Diversity Institute at the College of Southern Maryland, on Saturday, April 25, 2015, will be a great opportunity for residents to do just that. This years theme, Shaping a Stronger Charles County Together, will feature panel discussions that share emerging trends from experts and community leaders, and will primarily focus on how each of us can individually support the countys path to engaging diversity.

Your involvement in the discussion is critical to our countys plan for diversity inclusion. It is our hope that our community will continue to see the importance of having this dialogue but also commit to an action plan that will be developed as a result of this forum. I and others involved in the planning welcome your input into the discussion, to assist in shaping the community that you want to see. Our community is our investment in the future for our families and those that we care about.

Forum “Unity in Our Community, Shaping a Stronger Charles County.” 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., April 25. College of Southern Maryland, La Plata Campus, Center for Business and Industry (BI) Building, 8730 Mitchell Road, La Plata. Hosted by the Diversity Institute at the College of Southern Maryland, this community-based event will include panelists, guest speakers and breakout sessions focusing on the areas of criminal justice, local business, public education, local government, nonprofit/civic groups and social groups. Free. For information, contact Robbie Morganfield, 301-539-4742. To register, visit http://www.csmd.edu/DiversityInstitute/unitycommunity.html